Preview — The Bourne Betrayal by Eric Van Lustbader

Two months after Jason Bourne's second wife has dies, he learns that Martin Lindros, his only friend in the CIA, went missing in Africa where he was tracking shipments of yellowcake uranium. After Bourne finds him, Martin returns to the U.S., but only after he persuades Bourne to go to Odessa to penetrate the clandestine world of terrorist money men there.

In Odessa, BourneTwo months after Jason Bourne's second wife has dies, he learns that Martin Lindros, his only friend in the CIA, went missing in Africa where he was tracking shipments of yellowcake uranium. After Bourne finds him, Martin returns to the U.S., but only after he persuades Bourne to go to Odessa to penetrate the clandestine world of terrorist money men there.

In Odessa, Bourne is hampered by confusing flashes of memories. He becomes convinced that they're false, but who planted them and why? And how can he function if he can't rely on his own memories? Eventually, Bourne figures out that the man he saved in Africa isn't his friend but a double, a terrorist intent on sending Bourne off on a wild goose chase while he himself steals U.S. intelligence and uses the information to coordinate an attack against a major U.S. city using nuclear devices.

The double, continuing to pose as Martin Lindros, orders a world-wide sanction against Bourne. Now, Bourne must fight off attempts on his life, track down uranium, and stop terrorists from launching an even more devastating attack against the U.S....more

Hardcover, 486 pages

Published
June 5th 2007
by Warner Books
(first published January 1st 2007)

Community Reviews

This book sucked harder than a Hoover. I love the Bourne Identity movies, and I figured Robert Ludlum is a famous author, so I figured this would be a fun read. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Ludlum's name is just put on top in big letters because he or his estate own the copyright to the Bourne series, and this book was written by (in small print) Eric Van Lustbader. So I still don't know how good a writer Ludlum is. What I do know is that Lustbader doesn't know squat about character develThis book sucked harder than a Hoover. I love the Bourne Identity movies, and I figured Robert Ludlum is a famous author, so I figured this would be a fun read. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Ludlum's name is just put on top in big letters because he or his estate own the copyright to the Bourne series, and this book was written by (in small print) Eric Van Lustbader. So I still don't know how good a writer Ludlum is. What I do know is that Lustbader doesn't know squat about character development, believable dialog or the fundamentals of decent storytelling. His is the most egregious use I have ever encountered of "As you know, Bob" storytelling: i.e., the unnatural use of characters to describe story background even though there's absolutely no need for people to relate stuff that characters in a novel should already know.Here's how that goes: "As you know, Bob, these terrorists have stolen a cargo of high-energy triggers typically used in manufacturing but also in the detonation of nuclear devices." Bad.Bad. BAAAAAAAAAAD....more

OllieI agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of Lustbader. I actually tried yet again to read his stuff and still he is a bad writer. How the publishinI agree wholeheartedly with your assessment of Lustbader. I actually tried yet again to read his stuff and still he is a bad writer. How the publishing business has changed that someone can be as published as he is and write the way he does. If you want to know how Ludlum writes, read one of the original three Bourne books. And don't expect them to be anything like the movies because they have very little in common with them. I did like Matt Damon's play of Bourne in the movies, but I knew the script writers really rewrote almost the entire books. Still, I have read nearly everything Ludlum ever wrote and I like his writing a great deal....more
Oct 03, 2012 11:49PM

LyndaWhere might I find something that you've written. Perhaps as comparative it will help me improve dialogue that I'm trying to learn to write.
Oct 31, 2013 07:42PM

Stewart ClarkeThese are the kind of books I listen to rather than read. The audiobook is read by one of the best readers I have ever listened to. This is likely whyThese are the kind of books I listen to rather than read. The audiobook is read by one of the best readers I have ever listened to. This is likely why I gave the book 3 stars. Otherwise the items needed at just the right moment would be too hard to swallow. I think the author was just too lazy to set things up in a more believable way....more
Aug 26, 2014 05:06PM

Lustbader manages to write both compelling prose and utter shite at the same time. You could call him the Dan Brown of the thriller world; if Brown hadn't already got that title sewn up himself. Since Robert Ludlum's death, Lustbader has been at the helm of the Bourne series of novels. Taking the original trilogy and, some might say, milking it for whatever he and the Ludlum estate can get. This book continues in that vein and feels a lot like Lustbader had the beginnings of a great idea for a sLustbader manages to write both compelling prose and utter shite at the same time. You could call him the Dan Brown of the thriller world; if Brown hadn't already got that title sewn up himself. Since Robert Ludlum's death, Lustbader has been at the helm of the Bourne series of novels. Taking the original trilogy and, some might say, milking it for whatever he and the Ludlum estate can get. This book continues in that vein and feels a lot like Lustbader had the beginnings of a great idea for a stand-alone novel but was already committed to that pesky Bourne cash-cow, without any ideas for that. So, he decided, why not just crow-bar the burgeoning plot ideas into the novel you've already got the advance for? Perfect.

The Bourne Legacy should have alerted us to Lustbader's penchant for the ridiculous – (view spoiler)[as Khan turns out to be Bourne's long lost (believed dead) son (hide spoiler)] – and in this sequel, The Bourne Betrayal, we're asked to believe that Bourne (a man with a history of memory loss and documented paranoia/trust issues) lets a doctor he's only just met inject his brain with 'memory healing nanites' and that an Islamic terrorist would be able to convincingly replace the head of a secret US anti-terrorism task-force – without anybody noticing; not even Bourne, his best friend. Truly incredible.

In fact, this magical ability to appear to be somebody else is the central point of the story. Both Karim al-Jamil and Bourne are described as chameleons: one able to fool an entire government department of professional spooks; the other able to fool a tight-knit terrorist cell. This is counter-balanced by Bourne's ability to, once he's realised he's been fooled by the fake Lindros, suddenly work out every tiny detail of the terrorist plot, immediately and, with no real evidence at all. He is the perfect spy I guess after all.

As I already own the next three Lustbader novels in the series, I'm almost certainly going to keep going. But these books are increasingly looking like they should be for Bourne completists only.["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>...more

Characters are bland and undeveloped, if at all. Action sequences don't make sense. Overuse of gee-wiz technology that doesn't exist. Events happen (a good guy gets tied up and beaten) which weren't covered in the prior paragraphs.

If you can get past the helicopters shooting down MiG-29s and Bourne in a commercial jet dogfighting with Iranian fighters (I'm not making this stuff up), you still have to deal with the incredible metamorphosis that has happened to Bourne himself between the Bourne LeCharacters are bland and undeveloped, if at all. Action sequences don't make sense. Overuse of gee-wiz technology that doesn't exist. Events happen (a good guy gets tied up and beaten) which weren't covered in the prior paragraphs.

If you can get past the helicopters shooting down MiG-29s and Bourne in a commercial jet dogfighting with Iranian fighters (I'm not making this stuff up), you still have to deal with the incredible metamorphosis that has happened to Bourne himself between the Bourne Legacy (which I absolutely loved) and this latest offering. The loving husband and father, part-time professor David Webb, has now been totally consumed by the Bourne identity.

Lindros asks before he dies that his ashes be buried at the Cloisters in New York City. The Cloisters is the name of a museum built by the Metropolitan Museum and has never had a cemetery. He repeatedly talks about the "Washington National Airport" when that airport was renamed in 1999 to the Ronald Reagan Washington Nation Airport (usually just called the Reagan National Airport now.

Omar, the humble and innocent Pakistani waiter is sitting bound to a chair in a bathroom of the Washington hotel where he works, knowing he's about to be executed by terrorists. Does this terrified man beg for mercy? Does he hurl abuse at his captors? Not a bit of it. He lectures them calmly and collectedly on the merits of the Israeli nation: "Israelis themselves are Nobel laureates in physics, economics, chemistry, literature; prize-winners in quantum computing, black-hole thermodynamics, string theory. Israelis were founders of Packard Bell, Oracle SanDisk, Akami, Mercury Interactive, Check Point, Amdocs, ICQ." Clearly satisfied on all these counts and that this would be the normal reaction of anyone about to die gruesomely at the hands of Islamic fanatics, Mr Van Lustbader then lets Omar get into his stride, expounding his beliefs on how Israel should be the model for them to follow. Perhaps understandably, the terrorist leader slices Omar's throat, telling him: "This is gibberish." Mr Van Lustbader go that bit right. What a perfect epitaph, not only to this ludicrous scenario, but to the whole book.

I almost stopped reading when the main terrorist character "became" Bourne's good friend Martin Lindross, fooling Bourne and everyone else whi knows Lindross into believing it was really him. Please.

Several components are just simply poorly reasearched. I.e. Marine Rangers in East Africa. Rangers are from the Army.

The dialogue sounds like actual people and the plot while ludicruous is mostly resolved logically ... but at no point do you actually believe any of it - from the second sentence, you realize you are reading a book and if you have a 4-hour flight delay - this will kill it without you becoming too annoyed since it's so professionally done but like airliner food serves to put food in your stomach and not much more - this book serves to fill up hundreds of pages but as soon as you put it down, I defy you to remember anyone beyond the Bourne character's name.

The cliches continue to abound in this new addition to the Bourne series, with the pick of the crop the "turning" of the CI head's assistant by one of the key terrorists who want revenge for an earlier attack by Bourne on their father. Add to this the ease at which CI is infiltrated by nearly every bad guy on the planet, including moles from the Pentagon and another mole who owes his allegiance to the evil Secretary of Defense.Lustbader is absolutely terrible at setting scenes - his descriptions of just where things are in relation to other things, is incomprehensible. It's impossible to get a visual of almost any three dimensional place the author describes, most often because he forgets his left from his right....more

This is in my bottom 10 books of all time. Poorly conceived, written, edited, and packaged. The plot makes about as much sense as a colonoscopy to diagnose strep throat. It's full of continuity, spelling, and grammatical errors and about as exciting as golf.

Below is a review I wrote and posted on Barnes & Noble where I purchased this book for my Nook. It still stands as my review.

Despite misgivings and numerous attempts at reading Lustbader in the past, I decided to read his Bourne books solely because of the subject - Jason Bourne. I hoped Lustbader had improved his craft in the last few years and that this series would be good. I was greatly dismayed from the start when I realized he had completely set aside the original and true character of

Below is a review I wrote and posted on Barnes & Noble where I purchased this book for my Nook. It still stands as my review.

Despite misgivings and numerous attempts at reading Lustbader in the past, I decided to read his Bourne books solely because of the subject - Jason Bourne. I hoped Lustbader had improved his craft in the last few years and that this series would be good. I was greatly dismayed from the start when I realized he had completely set aside the original and true character of David Webb/Jason Bourne, and his family as they were created by Ludlum. For anyone who has read and loved the original Bourne books by Robert Ludlum, you realize the movies had very little in common with the books. And I loved the movies - Matt Damon was a terrific Jason Bourne. However, the movies and books had bare bones only in common. Lustbader’s Bourne character comes across as if he was a 30something covert ops hero and crashes forward through something like 10 or maybe 11 books/adventures to date. I really wanted to read the 'new' Jason Bourne adventures, although knowing that it would be as if reading about a new character rather than a continuation of a much loved and well-known character. That would have been fine - if Lustbader could really write. He does fine up to a point, but some of his plotting action is so incredibly stupid you wonder if a 10-year-old could have done better. One review I read mentioned Bourne heard his phone while revving a motorcycle with a helicopter flying immediately overhead – and I have to agree that is so far-fetched, I would say impossible. I nearly stopped reading at a point just moments before the ring of his cell phone when he jumped a Harley off the back of a moving rig and pulled a sharp U-turn in front of oncoming cars, ratcheting up through the gears in a chase scene. This whole scenario, from how they got on the street in a chase scene to begin with to the way it ended, is so badly contrived I could barely make it through. Not wanting to spoil anything further for those who might actually want to read this stuff, let me just say that the prelude to the chase scene was a real stumble-bumble scenario - nothing that David Webb/Jason Bourne of the first three books or the Jason Bourne of the movies would have done. Stupid is as stupid does for Lustbader. I waded through more pages until yet another incredibly stupid scenario and I quit. I can only stand to read poorly written, contrived plots for so long and then I just throw the book away or put it in a recycle bag. Unfortunately, this one is on my Nook. Oh yeah. Delete! Delete! Delete! For those who might actually enjoy somewhat poorly constructed action stuff and can ignore the tripe of Lustbader's writing, enjoy. But, please, be aware that all you are reading is Lustbader's bid for his own James Bond type series and it would have been far better if he had simply created his own character and not usurped the wonderful character that Robert Ludlum created. I had to give it a star rating to post the review and couldn't do just a tiny point of a star so let it be known that the star I had to give for this book was for the name - Jason Bourne - and nothing else....more

If you love non-stop action thrillers, you'll enjoy this action-adventure thriller. With non-stop action, this novel takes you all over the world from Washington D.C. to Africa to Eastern Asia. I remember seeing the first Bourne movies years ago and on TV--now this propels us to post-9/11 world with terrorists and intricate plotlines. I've been wrapped up into a fast paced world. We can see Bourne struggle with his memory and how he copes with his loss. My heart sank with him. But we see him nevIf you love non-stop action thrillers, you'll enjoy this action-adventure thriller. With non-stop action, this novel takes you all over the world from Washington D.C. to Africa to Eastern Asia. I remember seeing the first Bourne movies years ago and on TV--now this propels us to post-9/11 world with terrorists and intricate plotlines. I've been wrapped up into a fast paced world. We can see Bourne struggle with his memory and how he copes with his loss. My heart sank with him. But we see him never give up and team up to fight the bad guys in various ways. Even injured, he's relentless. With the fourth Bourne thriller hitting the movies this summer, this one takes off where that left over. Breathless, heart racing a storm, this sent chills down the spine. I kept rooting for Bourne all the way to the end. ...more

I often will not even bother putting a three star book up on goodreads. I don't particularly like to give bad reviews, and a three star rating to me means that there are some pretty significant weaknesses.

However, Lustbader's early stuff is some of my favorite fiction, and I will probably keep giving him a chance unless he goes the full Tom Clancy. I did think his recent First Daughter was better.

So, what was good about the book. The plot was interesting and wellpaced, especially the second halfI often will not even bother putting a three star book up on goodreads. I don't particularly like to give bad reviews, and a three star rating to me means that there are some pretty significant weaknesses.

However, Lustbader's early stuff is some of my favorite fiction, and I will probably keep giving him a chance unless he goes the full Tom Clancy. I did think his recent First Daughter was better.

So, what was good about the book. The plot was interesting and wellpaced, especially the second half of the book. And he did a good job recreating the depths of the torment of Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne.

However, the writing was not very good. I do not need literary prose to enjoy a book by any stretch. I like Lee Child and I like Clive Cussler's first ten or so books. But this writing was just weak. Way, way too much use of the verb to be and the passive tense. Even beyond that, the writing just seemed lazy.

As I said, I don't like leaving bad reviews. But at his best, Lustbader's previous writing would reach out and grab you by the heart and gut and not let go. I hope he's got it in him to get that back in the future....more

A truly laughable plot line. Although, I'm sure those that love a good spy novel and/or the Bourne series will disagree with me. It really should be kept in the "Fantasy" genre. The characters are able to assume each other's identities with the greatest of ease right down to the last detail. The good guys are able to become the bad guys and vice versa. Not only are enemies able to walk the walk of one another but even their voices are amazingly counterfeited. Sorry, but I don't buy it. The technA truly laughable plot line. Although, I'm sure those that love a good spy novel and/or the Bourne series will disagree with me. It really should be kept in the "Fantasy" genre. The characters are able to assume each other's identities with the greatest of ease right down to the last detail. The good guys are able to become the bad guys and vice versa. Not only are enemies able to walk the walk of one another but even their voices are amazingly counterfeited. Sorry, but I don't buy it. The technology just doesn't exist. Unfortunately, because this is such a huge portion of the plot line, the entire book suffered. Perhaps if the book was supposed to take place a couple of hundred years from now it might not have been so bad but it's modern day setting doomed it to failure....more

I thought no one could Kill Jason Bourne, so well done Eric Van Lustbader. Jason Bourne is now dead to me. The villain is boring. and somehow has built a bond style evil base in the Afghanistan mountains. for those of you who don't know the geography of the area it cant be traversed by a motorised transport. Yet somehow our villain managed not only to build a secret base but also managed to get an elevator and a tarmac runway. This is just one of numerous ludicrous scenarios Van Lustbader servesI thought no one could Kill Jason Bourne, so well done Eric Van Lustbader. Jason Bourne is now dead to me. The villain is boring. and somehow has built a bond style evil base in the Afghanistan mountains. for those of you who don't know the geography of the area it cant be traversed by a motorised transport. Yet somehow our villain managed not only to build a secret base but also managed to get an elevator and a tarmac runway. This is just one of numerous ludicrous scenarios Van Lustbader serves up.

Eric Van Lustbader is milking the name of Jason Bourne for every cent he can get. Robert Lidlum must be spinning in his grave...more

The Bourne Trilogy ( Robert Ludlum's greatest work) was one of the best clandestine-thriller series I've ever had the privilege of reading. Normally the idea of a book series chronicling the adventures of a schizophrenic/amnesiac assassin would be absurd, but Ludlum made it work. He made readers connect, not only with Jason Bourne and his alter-ego, but every other character that was a part of Bourne's Life. He made you want to follow Bourne on his journey through confusion, paranoia, frustratioThe Bourne Trilogy ( Robert Ludlum﻿'s greatest work) was one of the best clandestine-thriller series I've ever had the privilege of reading. Normally the idea of a book series chronicling the adventures of a schizophrenic/amnesiac assassin would be absurd, but Ludlum made it work. He made readers connect, not only with Jason Bourne and his alter-ego, but every other character that was a part of Bourne's Life. He made you want to follow Bourne on his journey through confusion, paranoia, frustration & the accompanying violence. That was the whole essence of "The Bourne Identity"- you, the reader, were not only able to buy into his idea of a schizophrenic amnesiac assassin, but you also were part of the journey of remembering. You wanted to find out about Bourne's past life just as much the character himself did, and that's why you kept reading. Jason Bourne was just a damm compelling character- "The Bourne Identity", not the book itself but the essence of the protagonist Jason Bourne & other key characters in his life, was simply addictive to the reader.

Ludlum's ability to weave this crucial aspect seamlessly into every wild thrill-ride of a mystery/action-adventure Jason Bourne is forced into is what MADE the Bourne Trilogy so great. Eric Van Lustbader﻿'s inability to do this is what makes the rest of the Bourne Series (Bourne Betrayal & Onwards) so terribly and painfully Awful.

I had put off reading the rest of the Bourne Series (post-Ludlum's trilogy) due to the belief that the new Author in the series (Lustbader) couldn't live up to the standard Ludlum had set for the original trilogy. I should have just followed my gut.

The most annoying thing is that when I did eventually decide to read the rest of the series, Lustbader completely Blew me away with his first installment in the continuation "The Bourne Legacy" , which was absolutely brilliant and actually surpassed "The Bourne Supremacy" as my favorite Bourne book overall. He HAD the essence of the Original Bourne Trilogy in "The Bourne Legacy", but he decided to completely forgo ALL OF IT in his later books. The plots are all weak and confusing; the supporting characters are always changing and remain underdeveloped before they are "killed off" from book to book. Even the main character is devoid of depth- it's like there's a new Jason Bourne in each succession that's completely different & sometimes contradictory to the Jason Bourne in the previous novel. The author completely abandoned the schizophrenic aspect of the protagonist and stripped Jason Bourne to just another caricatured "Secret Agent Man" in the mold of James Bond. The sheer lack of any semblance of continuity is absolutely gut-wrenching to a fan of the original Trilogy- without it every book is just another typical mass-produced Action Thriller novel with an over the top badass main character and a shoddily put-together plot. And WHY THE HECK would anyone in their right mind devote their precious time to reading a crappy 10+ hr Action-Thriller Novel when Hollywood can give you an Action-Thriller Screenplay with 10x the plot, 10x the character depth, 10x the plausibility, and easily 10x the entertainment in just 1/4 the time!!!.....It's just a damm shame such a well developed & compelling character & series had to go to waste- my faith in fiction novels is shot....more

This book was both good and bad at the same time. If I read this book without comparing this sequel to the prior stories, it was good. I think that the prior stories were so good that this book let me down because it was not nearly as good as the other ones. I had higher hopes for this book, but it was still entertaining to read.

The reason why I say this is because the book was indeed very action packed, but it felt like there was no progression. It felt like the book was just action scene afterThis book was both good and bad at the same time. If I read this book without comparing this sequel to the prior stories, it was good. I think that the prior stories were so good that this book let me down because it was not nearly as good as the other ones. I had higher hopes for this book, but it was still entertaining to read.

The reason why I say this is because the book was indeed very action packed, but it felt like there was no progression. It felt like the book was just action scene after action scene so the pace was the same throughout the same story. If this book had a mellow beginning, a rising middle and nail-biting, conclusive ending, it would have been much better. This felt rather closer to a comic than a mystery or suspense novel....more

So now I have caught up with the series, recovered from the "let down" of the third book, crossed the juncture between author differences, and accepted the merging of the movie “ridiculously damn near super human not quite believable” Bourne Bad Arse Mother F-er (BAMF) fictional character.The Bourne Betrayal seems to go a little further into outrageous fiction. Jason Bourne has all but taken over (so long David Webb), his family is conveniently written out of the plot, and we now have another MuSo now I have caught up with the series, recovered from the "let down" of the third book, crossed the juncture between author differences, and accepted the merging of the movie “ridiculously damn near super human not quite believable” Bourne Bad Arse Mother F-er (BAMF) fictional character.The Bourne Betrayal seems to go a little further into outrageous fiction. Jason Bourne has all but taken over (so long David Webb), his family is conveniently written out of the plot, and we now have another Muslim extremist terrorist plot involving CIA Deputy Director Martin Lindros, who was introduced in book 4. It seems that Lindros and Bourne have become buddies, and this becomes the tie to involve Jason Bourne into the plot. Lustbader introduces new characters in the process that split off on their own side plots. This time around the overall plot is super far-fetched, and of course Bourne goes into super BAMF mode beating bad guys, piloting and maneuvering against fighter planes (really?!) all while being hindered by a stab wound kept at bay by sheer will and mystical far-east herbs. Prepare for quite an escape from reality....more

Eric van Lustbader puts out a decent book, filled with suspense and intrigue and uses that 21st century buzz plot, the fight against terrorists seeking to take over parts of the US. It has all the thrills you could want, some very descriptive fight scenes and even some graphic attacks that leave you wincing and wishing you had a doctor on hand. Fairly decent dialogue and the book flows fairly well. It is.... WAIT A MINUTE!! This is one of the Bourne series. Scratch the above and keep reading!

MISEric van Lustbader puts out a decent book, filled with suspense and intrigue and uses that 21st century buzz plot, the fight against terrorists seeking to take over parts of the US. It has all the thrills you could want, some very descriptive fight scenes and even some graphic attacks that leave you wincing and wishing you had a doctor on hand. Fairly decent dialogue and the book flows fairly well. It is.... WAIT A MINUTE!! This is one of the Bourne series. Scratch the above and keep reading!

MISSING IN ACTION!!! Jason Bourne/David Webb, that Jekyll/Hyde character created by Robert Ludlum is missing and presumed erased by someone who took Ludlum’s reins and continued the series. Lustbader insults true Bourne fans by Hollywood-ising the story and completely ruins the foundation that was set out by the famed espionage author. We have gaping holes that are not addressed:

1) If Arab and Islamic terrorists are the front and centre, we must assume that it is post-September 11, 2001. This makes Bourne at LEAST 61 years old (if we hold true to Ludlum’s foundation of the character)

2) Mrs. Bourne is dead (this is not a spoiler, as it is announced in the preface), and he is off with NO mention of the children. Eldest is, at most 13 years old and no nanny is mentioned or calls home to ensure food is being consumed.

3) The Jason Bourne we know has no moment of switchover from his Webb identity, so we are to assume that he lives like this all the time.

4) The character, besides being close to a senior, fights as though he is a young, Damonian version of himself that one might see on the silver screen. Has Lustbader tried to cater the character to meet the Matt Damon litmus test? Get people interested in reading the series from this point on?

I should have known that when Scott Brick stopped narrating, the greatness of the series would leave too. I have no issues with suspending reality, but not in mid-series. Either begin with dragons and unexpected happenings or do not do it at all. Put the series to rest and out of its misery, and let poor Robert Ludlum keep from turning over in his grave.

SHAME Mr. Lustbader. Alas, having promised myself to read the entire series, I will continue. That said, I will be sure to keep reviewing honestly and not pussyfoot around....more

PB- Another chapter in the Bourne saga win which Jason still in disfavor with the head of CI is tasked with finding Martin Landros, the Deputy Director and his mentor. Jason is still having memory problems and is sent to a psychologist in an attempt to clear them up. At the same time the CI task force Typhon is tasked to track down some sophisticated triggers in the hands of a large and shadowy terrorist group headed by a man called "Fadi" who has a private agenda regarding Jason. There are sevePB- Another chapter in the Bourne saga win which Jason still in disfavor with the head of CI is tasked with finding Martin Landros, the Deputy Director and his mentor. Jason is still having memory problems and is sent to a psychologist in an attempt to clear them up. At the same time the CI task force Typhon is tasked to track down some sophisticated triggers in the hands of a large and shadowy terrorist group headed by a man called "Fadi" who has a private agenda regarding Jason. There are several factions after Jason as he tries to locate Landros including his own service, there is a mole in the CI, the help of an out of favor CI operative, territory disputes between CI and the Pentagon's top man all these put together have Jason scrambling to stay ahead of the opponents and alive as well. Lots of action and plot twists as Jason, who seems to have 9 lives, works his way to the conclusion.ISBN - 978-0-446-61880-9, Suspense, Pages - 742, Print Size - R, Rating - 4.25 All books reviewed are from the library or purchased by the reviewer....more

Robert Ludlum wrote 3 classic books on the “Jason Bourne” character. After his sad demise, Eric Van Lustbader has been writing some tales featuring the legendary Bourne.Continuing on earlier tales, Bourne is of course retired and living a simple academic life. He has also lost his wife Marie. His latest addition to miseries is the news that his friend, Martin Lindros, has gone missing in action. Bourne has to track him down, break down a Islamic fundamentalist terrorist network, prevent a nucleaRobert Ludlum wrote 3 classic books on the “Jason Bourne” character. After his sad demise, Eric Van Lustbader has been writing some tales featuring the legendary Bourne.Continuing on earlier tales, Bourne is of course retired and living a simple academic life. He has also lost his wife Marie. His latest addition to miseries is the news that his friend, Martin Lindros, has gone missing in action. Bourne has to track him down, break down a Islamic fundamentalist terrorist network, prevent a nuclear explosion, et al. The story goes around the globe – Ethiopia, Eastern Europe, Russia, Washington, the works. There is also very interesting biochemical piece of mind control (and how Bourne loses his mind and memory all the more). It’s a fast-read, action packed, thriller.Overall, I have two conflicting views on this book (and hence, an exact 50% rating).On the positive side, this is a great entertainer. More like a script for a Matt Damon movie – amazing action sequences, lots of twists and turns, plenty of violence, the works. The pace is unrelenting, strong and engaging. The book is also much better than “The Bourne Legacy” (another Lustbader/Bourne book, which was written before ”…Betrayal”).On the other hand, however, this is NO WAY a Robert Ludlum / Jason Bourne story. What I loved of the original series was the focus on the mind of the protagonist – what he thinks, what he feels, how he acts and reacts, way he speaks, way he concocts stories (“feed half the truth”) on the fly, how he is always stressed and confused (“is it Bourne speaking, or is it Webb”), the way he manipulates people he meets, et al. I get goosebumps just reminiscing about the old books; even the action sequences were a bit different. I guess it was more dirty, raw and bloody (“know exactly at what pressure your eyeballs will burst…not there yet”) – more “real”; whereas Lustbader’s tales are larger, almost “larger than life” (again, more suited for the “reel”). It is just not the same. If anyone was looking for the old “feel”, he will be so disappointed.You should know where you belong – traditional Ludlum camp OR action-movie-camp. ...more

Wow - if an author can't even get CONTINUITY right, then what else could they possibly get right?

Turns out nothing. So, the Bourne Betrayal is a vacuous, ridiculous, vapid glassy-eyed mooncalf masquerading as a blockbuster in literary form.

See, there was this scene where Bourne had "disarmed" a woman [who was, clinging to him as they speed around on a Harley] who held a knife to his throat. Um, then she strangles him. Throat fetish maybe? I think at this point she helpfully deflects a shotgun blWow - if an author can't even get CONTINUITY right, then what else could they possibly get right?

Turns out nothing. So, the Bourne Betrayal is a vacuous, ridiculous, vapid glassy-eyed mooncalf masquerading as a blockbuster in literary form.

See, there was this scene where Bourne had "disarmed" a woman [who was, clinging to him as they speed around on a Harley] who held a knife to his throat. Um, then she strangles him. Throat fetish maybe? I think at this point she helpfully deflects a shotgun blast from a random bystander [road rage?]. Self preservation anyone? But it's okay--'cause Bourne drives sidewways under a jackknifed semi-truck trailer. Yeah...then she puts a knife to his throat again. Wait! Wasn't she disarmed? Way to be grateful lady!!

If you thought that was seriously disjointed then - congratulations - you've got the chops to pan this travesty. On the other side of the coin, if you liked that...well have I got a book for you.

Let's cut to the chase. The concept is limp, the prose is lamely expository, the characters are flat, and the plot is as stale as it is hyperbolic. Van Lustbader has done the world a disservice, and I've done myself a personal solid by pronouncing time of death prior to the 100 page mark....more

Definitely not of the Ludlum caliber, but not too shabby. A little bit less contrived than the previous Van Lustbader Bourne effort. Unfortunately, the last one was one of the most obvious and contrived stories I've ever read, so a little bit less is still pretty contrived.

The problem that anyone trying to follow in Ludlum's footstep was going to face is that Ludlum's stories always had the feeling of reality to them. A feeling that this could, even if a little far-fetched, actually happen. He tDefinitely not of the Ludlum caliber, but not too shabby. A little bit less contrived than the previous Van Lustbader Bourne effort. Unfortunately, the last one was one of the most obvious and contrived stories I've ever read, so a little bit less is still pretty contrived.

The problem that anyone trying to follow in Ludlum's footstep was going to face is that Ludlum's stories always had the feeling of reality to them. A feeling that this could, even if a little far-fetched, actually happen. He tended to do this better than just about anyone else. This book does not seem feasible in the slightest. Each new little plot twist seems even more removed from reality than the last.

All this being said, it was an entertaining little read and so long as you're not expecting Ludlum quality, you should enjoy yourself. It's like a television show that you've watched since the beginning, but has started to go downhill. You are compelled to keep watching, despite the dip in quality, just to see how the characters get on. ...more

I find that it becomes harder and harder to review books in a series as it goes on, so this one is going to be mercifully short - or at least, that's my aim.

I think that what has become evident in this novel is that Lustbader is stamping his authority on the Bourne persona and novels; where with Legacy he made small changes with Betrayal he has started to drastically remold the Bourne universe. - A perfect example of this would be the removal of Marie from the books; in Legacy she was sidelinedI find that it becomes harder and harder to review books in a series as it goes on, so this one is going to be mercifully short - or at least, that's my aim.

I think that what has become evident in this novel is that Lustbader is stamping his authority on the Bourne persona and novels; where with Legacy he made small changes with Betrayal he has started to drastically remold the Bourne universe. - A perfect example of this would be the removal of Marie from the books; in Legacy she was sidelined and in this one she was killed. - Another example would drastic change is the whole clashing of personas within Webb/Bourne. One of the things I loved about the first three was the whole two personas within one body, with each having distinct personalities. I especially loved the way that this was made clear when Ludlum would say 'Webbb did this', then later 'Bourne did this' showing a distinct difference between the two. However this is not apparent in Lustbader's versions; instead it's almost a clash personality of the two, with neither being dominant and instead a compound personality exists, or at least that's how he tried to explain it - I personally feel that Lustbader has put aside the Webb persona and will only bring it out when he truly needs it, as the main character is undoubtedly Bourne not both. Which is a shame. - Almost a re-casting of the support staff. He has systematically removed the support structures Bourne/Webb had in place under ludlum so that he could do as he wished. - I sometimes feel as if he is making up Bourne's past to suit the story line. As far as my memory goes there wasn't that many true assassinations that Bourne's assassin did - or am I wrong? Either way though I feel like his past is more malleable than before. But hey, when you've got an amnesiac as an protagonist this is one of those perks, eh?

Those are just some of the changes that I have spotted within the tale. That is not to say that it is bad, just different. I think that while he has changed a lot, Lustbader has brought back the action, intrigue and writing style of Ludlum's first two. I truly believe that Ultimatum was the beginning of a slippy slope for Bourne and Ludlum and that Lustbader brought them back from the edge.

So, the tale. The characters were as great as ever, the plot brilliantly done and the writing reminiscent of the early Bourne novels - at least, I think they are. However, I do have one problem;- I don't know what or why it is, but the last climactic 100 pages just seemed hard to get into for me. It really slowed down the pace of my reading, and the best thing I can attribute it to was the insane jumping around; I didn't know if I was coming or going. Hopefully this will change in the future novels.

Bah, ok, so it wasn't short. What the heck.

Now, I wouldn't suggest this to anyone new to Bourne - really, not only does reading from the beginning make chronological sense, but the first novel is the BEST novel. For those of you who are hardened Bourne fans, this book is definitely worth the read.

The Bourne Betrayal is an extremly action packed adventure who i would recomend to Anyone who loves either the Bourne series or just a good rush. The Bourne Betrayal is right in sequence with the movies and is highly accurate. Jason Bourne with privious amnessia developes his memory back over time and the only friend he has left has been kidnapped by terrorist. The US government has now hired jason bourne to Track down his old firend and bring him home. I could literally feel a rush when i readThe Bourne Betrayal is an extremly action packed adventure who i would recomend to Anyone who loves either the Bourne series or just a good rush. The Bourne Betrayal is right in sequence with the movies and is highly accurate. Jason Bourne with privious amnessia developes his memory back over time and the only friend he has left has been kidnapped by terrorist. The US government has now hired jason bourne to Track down his old firend and bring him home. I could literally feel a rush when i read the book and i couldn't put it down. One thing that i like was Jsaon Bournes drive and why he never gave up. Terrorists have the one things in his world that he even cares about and Eric Van Lustbader does a very good job of keeping the suspense alive throughout the novel. He portrayed the CIA and the Government's CI Program as a shoot first and ask questions later sort of business. What i like about Robert Ludlum's stories is that he seems to have set the bar for all spy novels. Most espionage type books seem to get boring and repetitive half way through them, but Ludlum's Bourne Series never loosens it's grip from start to finish. ...more

Second reading / review: Now that the trilogy has found a place more in the back of my head and I do not put links to that Bourne -this Bourne all the time, this story is actually quite readable. In fact, for me the Bourne in this book looks more like the original than the character pictured in the Testament book. I'll stick to my original rating though.

A very dazzling book. It got me thinking in the wrong direction many times. Somehow I keep remembering that David Webb was in his 50's alreadySecond reading / review: Now that the trilogy has found a place more in the back of my head and I do not put links to that Bourne -this Bourne all the time, this story is actually quite readable. In fact, for me the Bourne in this book looks more like the original than the character pictured in the Testament book. I'll stick to my original rating though.

A very dazzling book. It got me thinking in the wrong direction many times. Somehow I keep remembering that David Webb was in his 50's already in the last part of the Bourne-trilogy. For me that 'fact' makes it all the harder to beleive that Bourne / Webb is still able to function as an agent. But maybe I am to picky, and should I just read it as a seperate novel, not a part of the Bourne sequence. In that case it is a good espionage thriller, because of the unexpected changes, the transformation of people into other people. A bit much to swallow for one book, I really had to keep track of things, had to go back in the book to see what was written earlier. ...more

Two months after Jason Bourne's second wife has dies, he learns that Martin Lindros, his only friend in the CIA, went missing in Africa where he was tracking shipments of yellowcake uranium. After Bourne finds him, Martin returns to the U.S., but only after he persuades Bourne to go to Odessa to penetrate the clandestine world of terrorist money men there.

In Odessa, Bourne is hampered by confusing flashes of memories. He becomes convinced that they're false, but who planted them and why? And h

Two months after Jason Bourne's second wife has dies, he learns that Martin Lindros, his only friend in the CIA, went missing in Africa where he was tracking shipments of yellowcake uranium. After Bourne finds him, Martin returns to the U.S., but only after he persuades Bourne to go to Odessa to penetrate the clandestine world of terrorist money men there.

In Odessa, Bourne is hampered by confusing flashes of memories. He becomes convinced that they're false, but who planted them and why? And how can he function if he can't rely on his own memories? Eventually, Bourne figures out that the man he saved in Africa isn't his friend but a double, a terrorist intent on sending Bourne off on a wild goose chase while he himself steals U.S. intelligence and uses the information to coordinate an attack against a major U.S. city using nuclear devices.

The double, continuing to pose as Martin Lindros, orders a world-wide sanction against Bourne. Now, Bourne must fight off attempts on his life, track down uranium, and stop terrorists from launching an even more devastating attack against the U.S.

If only you could combine Lustbader and Ludlum into one writer. That would be an excellent novelist. Ludlum could create dynamic characters like Jason Bourne, and the stories he could come up with are top notch. However, Ludlum had trouble putting these stories on paper. He is a terrible writer, with an overuse of the exclamation point, and he can't write good dialogue between characters.

On the other hand you have Lustbader who has taken up Ludlum's mantle and has continued to churn our Bourne bIf only you could combine Lustbader and Ludlum into one writer. That would be an excellent novelist. Ludlum could create dynamic characters like Jason Bourne, and the stories he could come up with are top notch. However, Ludlum had trouble putting these stories on paper. He is a terrible writer, with an overuse of the exclamation point, and he can't write good dialogue between characters.

On the other hand you have Lustbader who has taken up Ludlum's mantle and has continued to churn our Bourne books. He has done a fine job of creating a new character. Yes, this is a completely different Bourne than what Ludlum wrote about. He took that character and changed him and brought him out of the 1980's and made him current. He is more like the movie version of Bourne. This is fine, and I totally understand why he did this. He is a much better writer than Ludlum. His story seems to have a nice flow, not overly-detailed, and the dialogue is much better. However, his story and characters are kind of weak and uninteresting to me.

So there you go, combine Ludlum ideas and Lustbader writing and you would get a superb spy novel. For me I will stop with the Lustbader books. For me a better story and characters trump the writing of it. Hence, when I want to read Bourne, I will go back and reread Ludlum. ...more

Am I ok in saying this is an excellent read? A thoroughly tip-top thriller? One of the very best?

Credibility...Meet window?

I hope not. I don't think so. In fact, I'm sure not. Because this one did exactly what it says on the tin and thrilled the whatsits off me. Why on earth do we read books, if not for pleasure? And reading this one is as pleasurable an experience as they come.

But first, a word of warning: Don't read the summary on the back. In my view, it gives away way too much of much too maAm I ok in saying this is an excellent read? A thoroughly tip-top thriller? One of the very best?

Credibility...Meet window?

I hope not. I don't think so. In fact, I'm sure not. Because this one did exactly what it says on the tin and thrilled the whatsits off me. Why on earth do we read books, if not for pleasure? And reading this one is as pleasurable an experience as they come.

But first, a word of warning: Don't read the summary on the back. In my view, it gives away way too much of much too many important plot turns for my liking. I didn't read it myself, until I was coincidentally 3/4 of the way in and all the points mentioned had passed. I didn't read it myself as I bought this book, knowing full well what I was getting into (as surely do most people with anything Bourne-related?). So I was able to enjoy the swallowing of red herrings and denouements, hook, line and sinker (yeah, that works).

Really, this is as close to a 5 Star review as one of these things is ever going to get. I'm not going to try and tie myself up win knots trying to convey the plot. And you know what you're getting, writing-style-wise. There were only a couple of places where I had to partially suspend belief, with a whispered, as the Welsh say; 'there's lucky', under my breath.

Eric Van Lustbader is not Robert Ludlum (but then, who is?). He's certainly in the style of, and doing an admirable job in picking the baton up, keeping the flame alight, etc etc. No one can match Ludlum for economy and clout, but Eric comes very close. That's high praise, in my book. Though in trying to analyse the differences between the two, I became more convinced that the further the series has gone on, the more Eric's own style has come through. Almost to the point where I think they should drop the 'Robert Ludlum's...' on the cover. Obviously, the marketing department aren't going to do that, but there is no doubt here, that this is Eric Van Lustbader's Jason Bourne now. Bourne, born again.

Earlier in the series - and the films, which are more or less the first three books - the questions Jason Bourne was asking could pretty much be boiled down to "who am I?" I think he was really asking, or at least the questions should really be interpreted as "what is my name?" Nowadays, in these later books he's more struggling to find his personality. His question is now "what kind of person am I?" Or, "what kind of person was I?", as he's now Jason Bourne. Not who he was originally. Before he was Bourne. If you can say that.

And with all this 'Prism' and listening to phone calls, reading of emails and generally keeping an eye on all of us; the Bourne books and films are beginning to look like more like documentaries!...more

I believe I read all Ludlum's books including the three Jason Bourne novels, undoubtedly the most popular character he created.

After Ludlum died, somebody, maybe his publisher, maybe his heirs decided they didn't want to see a good thing die with him. So they came up with the idea of having Eric Van Lustbader, who hadn't written a best seller in years continue the series. Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked Lustbader's books particularly the Nicholas Linnear series but to paraphrase Lloyd Bentson, "He'I believe I read all Ludlum's books including the three Jason Bourne novels, undoubtedly the most popular character he created.

After Ludlum died, somebody, maybe his publisher, maybe his heirs decided they didn't want to see a good thing die with him. So they came up with the idea of having Eric Van Lustbader, who hadn't written a best seller in years continue the series. Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked Lustbader's books particularly the Nicholas Linnear series but to paraphrase Lloyd Bentson, "He's no Robert Ludlum".

I finished this book because I wanted to see how it all came out but I think I would have been better served if I had read the Prologue and the first two or three chapters then immediately read the last two or three chapters but like Jason Bourne, I'm a bit of a masochist.

The story has it's moments and for us thriller readers it does move along fairly well. Unfortunately the characters are cardboard stereotypes and the situations belong in an old fashioned comic book, they are so unbelievable.

One thing I know for sure. I have no intention of reading the other two Lustbader pale imitations of the real thing....more

Gah! I usually avoid books like these, featuring "adventures" of a particular character. I prefer books where the characters journey ends on the last page, otherwise it feels more like a product rather than literature. I dunno though. The way Lustbader ended the book was...well, lets just say there were plenty of loose ends and i was not satiated. Looks like im going to buy the next Bourne adventure. DAMN YOU LUSTBADER!

The book was very different from the movie. It looked like Marie didnt die inGah! I usually avoid books like these, featuring "adventures" of a particular character. I prefer books where the characters journey ends on the last page, otherwise it feels more like a product rather than literature. I dunno though. The way Lustbader ended the book was...well, lets just say there were plenty of loose ends and i was not satiated. Looks like im going to buy the next Bourne adventure. DAMN YOU LUSTBADER!

The book was very different from the movie. It looked like Marie didnt die in the Bourne Supremacy part but survived into two books later. SPOILER ALERT!!! She and Bourne had kids(though the kids werent in this particular novel)! Bourne is not the silent kick ass kind of guy here either, not like in the movie where he lets his karate chops do the talking. Also it reminded me of Face-off, what with the 'prosthetics' that alter peoples faces. Hmmm now that I think about it, it was more like Mission Impossible... but all in all it was a good thrill ride. ...more

Not a great book. Lustbader seems intent on removing all ties to Ludlum's trilogy. Marie is dead, their kids and the long-lost son from the previous book are missing, and there is no indication that Bourne was ever part of the Vietnam conflict. I suspect that this is Lustbader's way of cutting the character loose from the constraints of old age, much like the G.I. Joe comic franchise has been severed from Vietnam to make it more relevant to today's generation. Bourne's friendship with Lindros isNot a great book. Lustbader seems intent on removing all ties to Ludlum's trilogy. Marie is dead, their kids and the long-lost son from the previous book are missing, and there is no indication that Bourne was ever part of the Vietnam conflict. I suspect that this is Lustbader's way of cutting the character loose from the constraints of old age, much like the G.I. Joe comic franchise has been severed from Vietnam to make it more relevant to today's generation. Bourne's friendship with Lindros is also contrived. This character is suddenly Bourne's best friend in the world?! Blech!

Even worse, the prose is sophomoric in spots, reading little better than a high-schooler's attempt to sound smart by using a thesaurus. For example, midway through the book, one of the villains "happily" saws through someone's body part. That entire section of the book was so ridiculous that I laughed out loud....more

SUMMARY:Already devastated by loss, Bourne is shattered by a report that his last friend in the world, Martin Lindros, has gone missing. A CI deputy director, Lindros was in Ethiopia tracking suspicious shipments of yellowcake uranium and atomic bomb weaponry. His last lifeline to humanity, Bourne will not let Lindros go. Despite his hatred for CI, Bourne sets out to rescue his friend and finish the job: dismantling a terrorist network determined to build nuclear armaments by cutting off their sSUMMARY:Already devastated by loss, Bourne is shattered by a report that his last friend in the world, Martin Lindros, has gone missing. A CI deputy director, Lindros was in Ethiopia tracking suspicious shipments of yellowcake uranium and atomic bomb weaponry. His last lifeline to humanity, Bourne will not let Lindros go. Despite his hatred for CI, Bourne sets out to rescue his friend and finish the job: dismantling a terrorist network determined to build nuclear armaments by cutting off their source of money. But Bourne doesn't realize that these men, Islamic supremacists, are leaders of an incredibly dangerous, technologically savvy group with ties from Africa, across the Middle East, and into Eastern Europe and Russia. They have predicted Bourne's every move, and are counting on his unwitting help in their plans to destroy America....more

Grab a six-pack of Michelob and settle back in your sofa. Open The Bourne Betrayal; don't criticize the dialog or shake your head while analyzing character presentations. Just read and enjoy. Eric Van Lustbader is best with action scenes and location transitions, explosions, knife fights and gun shooting. Any love lost isn't an issue in this Jason Bourne Novel, just stopping terrorists from personal vendetta.

The explosive pace helped schism plotting misgivings and character malfeasance. The storGrab a six-pack of Michelob and settle back in your sofa. Open The Bourne Betrayal; don't criticize the dialog or shake your head while analyzing character presentations. Just read and enjoy. Eric Van Lustbader is best with action scenes and location transitions, explosions, knife fights and gun shooting. Any love lost isn't an issue in this Jason Bourne Novel, just stopping terrorists from personal vendetta.

The explosive pace helped schism plotting misgivings and character malfeasance. The story kept my interest, and the furiousness of the terrorists ignited some fire within me. If you can read 724 pages of flaiming hatred intermixed with cultural, melodramatic incubus, you'll like this novel.

Nothing against Eric Van Lustbader, but I gave The Bourne Betrayal 3 stars because it wasn't an authentic Robert Ludlum novel....more

Aside from the fact I got this book free and I wanted to know how it ended, I don't know why I finished it (all 720 pages-eesh). Basically all non-white characters were portrayed in a way that made the author look really bigoted. He did at least try to mention that not all Muslims are terrorists (although he didn't get to black men from DC being able to speak without the most ridiculous ebonics), I found it hard to just enjoy my escapist thriller without being put off. I don't know if having a sAside from the fact I got this book free and I wanted to know how it ended, I don't know why I finished it (all 720 pages-eesh). Basically all non-white characters were portrayed in a way that made the author look really bigoted. He did at least try to mention that not all Muslims are terrorists (although he didn't get to black men from DC being able to speak without the most ridiculous ebonics), I found it hard to just enjoy my escapist thriller without being put off. I don't know if having a secondary author and not the original Bourne guy makes a difference, may have to pick up one of the originals to see.

The storyline is readable but predictable plot about Islamic extremists being all terroristy. Well, at least it was a free paperback that could get wet on the beach without me crying. ...more

Eric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.

Mr. Lustbader isEric Van Lustbader was born and raised in Greenwich Village. He is the author of more than twenty-five best-selling novels, including The Ninja, in which he introduced Nicholas Linnear, one of modern fiction's most beloved and enduring heroes. The Ninja was sold to 20th CenturyFox, to be made into a major motion picture. His novels have been translated into over twenty languages.

Mr. Lustbader is a graduate of Columbia College, with a degree in Sociology. Before turning to writing full time, he enjoyed highly successful careers in the New York City public school system, where he holds licenses in both elementary and early childhood education, and in the music business, where he worked for Elektra Records and CBS Records, among other companies.